Siddique's rearguard delays England
Plays of the day from day four at Chittagong
Andrew Miller in Chittagong
15-Mar-2010
It took another fantastic piece of bowling, from Graeme Swann this time, to remove Tamim Iqbal • Getty Images
Ball of the day
If anyone was going to give England a scare in this contest, that anyone had to be Tamim Iqbal. His technique, temperament and the power of his strokeplay have set him apart from his peers in this series, but for the second time in the match, his off stump fell victim to an exceptional delivery. On Sunday it was Tim Bresnan who zipped past his defences; today it was Graeme Swann with a beauty that looped, dipped, gripped and spun. Nevertheless, he departed with a match total of 100 runs, despite twice attracting balls that would have nailed any player in the world. As and when his luck turns, he has the game to seek his vengeance.
If anyone was going to give England a scare in this contest, that anyone had to be Tamim Iqbal. His technique, temperament and the power of his strokeplay have set him apart from his peers in this series, but for the second time in the match, his off stump fell victim to an exceptional delivery. On Sunday it was Tim Bresnan who zipped past his defences; today it was Graeme Swann with a beauty that looped, dipped, gripped and spun. Nevertheless, he departed with a match total of 100 runs, despite twice attracting balls that would have nailed any player in the world. As and when his luck turns, he has the game to seek his vengeance.
Innings of the day
Junaid Siddique was playing for his place when Bangladesh began their second innings. After a second-ball duck in his only appearance in the one-day series, and inconclusive scores of 16 and 37 in last week's three-day warm-up, he needed a score to convince the doubters, especially after his limp dismissal to Stuart Broad's bouncer in the first innings. But right on cue, he dug in for his highest Test score since Bangladesh's victory over West Indies in Kingstown, to haul his country's rearguard into a fifth and final day.
Junaid Siddique was playing for his place when Bangladesh began their second innings. After a second-ball duck in his only appearance in the one-day series, and inconclusive scores of 16 and 37 in last week's three-day warm-up, he needed a score to convince the doubters, especially after his limp dismissal to Stuart Broad's bouncer in the first innings. But right on cue, he dug in for his highest Test score since Bangladesh's victory over West Indies in Kingstown, to haul his country's rearguard into a fifth and final day.
Aberration of the day
Shakib Al Hasan is ranked as one of the top allrounders in world cricket, but his batting has not been at its best on this tour. He was off-colour in the one-dayers (albeit a touch unlucky as well), while in the first innings of this match he was suckered by Graeme Swann and tempted into a monstrous mow. A similar mindset afflicted him second-time around, as he sized up a sweep from only his third delivery, but was beaten in the flight and pinned lbw for 4 - although replays suggested the ball had come off the glove. After a disciplined third-wicket stand of 54, three wickets had tumbled for 11, and once again Bangladesh's propensity for self-destruction had resurfaced.
Shakib Al Hasan is ranked as one of the top allrounders in world cricket, but his batting has not been at its best on this tour. He was off-colour in the one-dayers (albeit a touch unlucky as well), while in the first innings of this match he was suckered by Graeme Swann and tempted into a monstrous mow. A similar mindset afflicted him second-time around, as he sized up a sweep from only his third delivery, but was beaten in the flight and pinned lbw for 4 - although replays suggested the ball had come off the glove. After a disciplined third-wicket stand of 54, three wickets had tumbled for 11, and once again Bangladesh's propensity for self-destruction had resurfaced.
Spell of the day
Many a true word is said in jest. Following his five-wicket haul in the first innings, Graeme Swann reiterated his oft-repeated statement that he'd like to bowl, not just in tandem with a solitary spinner, but with five or six in the same side, "because I've grown up believing we should rule the world because we're a higher species than the seamers". To judge by England's tactics on the fourth day, Alastair Cook is inclined to agree. Swann wheeled his way through 29 overs out of 75 in Bangladesh's second innings, including 25 in a row either side of tea. He didn't get the rewards that he had reaped first time around, but it wasn't for want of trying.
Many a true word is said in jest. Following his five-wicket haul in the first innings, Graeme Swann reiterated his oft-repeated statement that he'd like to bowl, not just in tandem with a solitary spinner, but with five or six in the same side, "because I've grown up believing we should rule the world because we're a higher species than the seamers". To judge by England's tactics on the fourth day, Alastair Cook is inclined to agree. Swann wheeled his way through 29 overs out of 75 in Bangladesh's second innings, including 25 in a row either side of tea. He didn't get the rewards that he had reaped first time around, but it wasn't for want of trying.
Desperation of the day
Few would have imagined Jonathan Trott (no wickets in 11 Test overs to date) being called upon to break the resistance of Bangladesh, but then that's what happens when you opt for four bowlers on a shirt-front. His middling medium-pacers didn't exactly ruffle the feathers of the well-set pairing of Junaid and Mushfiqur Rahim, although there was one brief moment of excitement. On 36, Mushfiqur stepped back into a pull and pushed off for a single, but as he did so, his leg bail dropped to the ground. For a split-second Trott believed he'd fluked his maiden Test wicket, until Matt Prior pointed out he was the one who'd caused the damage, rather than Mushfiqur's heel.
Few would have imagined Jonathan Trott (no wickets in 11 Test overs to date) being called upon to break the resistance of Bangladesh, but then that's what happens when you opt for four bowlers on a shirt-front. His middling medium-pacers didn't exactly ruffle the feathers of the well-set pairing of Junaid and Mushfiqur Rahim, although there was one brief moment of excitement. On 36, Mushfiqur stepped back into a pull and pushed off for a single, but as he did so, his leg bail dropped to the ground. For a split-second Trott believed he'd fluked his maiden Test wicket, until Matt Prior pointed out he was the one who'd caused the damage, rather than Mushfiqur's heel.
Stat of the day
It's often said that Ian Bell cashes in when the going is good, although those jibes dissipated a touch in South Africa this winter, when he was widely credited for his role in both the victory at Durban and the rearguard at Cape Town. But there's not a lot of hiding from his average against Bangladesh. In 2005, in his first full series as an England Test cricketer, he racked up 227 runs without being dismissed, including a hefty 162 in the second match at Durham. In Chittagong, he has now added scores of 84 and 39 not out, to take his average to a well-rounded, but somewhat obese, 350.
It's often said that Ian Bell cashes in when the going is good, although those jibes dissipated a touch in South Africa this winter, when he was widely credited for his role in both the victory at Durban and the rearguard at Cape Town. But there's not a lot of hiding from his average against Bangladesh. In 2005, in his first full series as an England Test cricketer, he racked up 227 runs without being dismissed, including a hefty 162 in the second match at Durham. In Chittagong, he has now added scores of 84 and 39 not out, to take his average to a well-rounded, but somewhat obese, 350.
Andrew Miller is UK editor of Cricinfo. Go to http://twitter.com/miller_cricket to follow him on Twitter through the England tour of Bangladesh.